The Emergence of Sesame as a Major Cash Crop in Punjab, Pakistan: Comparative Production and Economic Analysis of the Crop for Years 2023 and 2024

Abstract

Sesame used to be a subsistence crop among the farmers of Punjab, Pakistan, with low input requirements and short maturity duration. Over the last few years, it has emerged as a major cash crop in the province. In the crop season 2024, the crop suffered significant yield losses badly affecting the farmers’ income due to prolonged heat stress period and excessive monsoon rain-induced flooding This loss was mainly caused by flower-shedding caused by prolonged heat wave and excessive rains leading to flooding in the fields. Ninety-three percent of the farmers reported outbreak of various diseases in the crop. Phyllody, charcoal rot and cercospora caused damage to the crop stand to the extent of 11, 13 and 27 percent in the affected sesame fields respectively. Similarly, 95 percent of the farmers reported insect attack on the crop mainly bugs, whitefly and to some extent thrips, aphids, borers and termite. Crop sowing through seed planter in rows turned out to have productivity advantage over broadcasting. Crop variety, soil type, sowing method and sowing time should be given due consideration to avoid rain and heat stress-related damage to crop and resultant yield losses. In this perspective, crop sown early in February-March on ridges or raised beds not only matures before the onset of adverse weather conditions but also escapes flood-related issues. While in Thal region having light sandy soil the crop can be planted in May, as extra water easily seeps down. Benefit-cost ratios of the crop production in year 2023 and 2024 were 4.00 and 1.07 without land rent, respectively. Impaired quality of the produce i.e. discoloration of the seed due to long spell of rains not only lead to decline in export volume and the total value of the commodity this year as well. Based on the last three years data, benefit-cost ratios of the crop without and with land rent were 2.02 and 1.17, respectively.